Interim Blues boss Benitez confirmed last week he had told owner Roman Abramovich that his squad was not strong enough to cope with the unprecedented fixture pile-up facing them this season but he appears to have given up hope of being allowed to add to the January signing of Demba Ba before Thursday's transfer deadline.

Asked if he anticipated any movement in the final 48 hours of the window, he said: "I don't think so but my job is to improve my squad and manage the situation we have."

Abramovich and the board's reluctance to back Benitez in the transfer market will reinforce the view that he has become a dead man walking at Stamford Bridge just over two months after succeeding Roberto Di Matteo.

It is understood there is currently no prospect of him losing his job before his contract expires this summer but reports persist that the club are already actively discussing replacing him next season.

Benitez shrugged off the speculation, which has included Everton boss David Moyes being linked with his job.

"My position is exactly the same," he said, confirming he had held talks with technical director Michael Emenalo in the wake of Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round draw at Brentford.

"I was speaking about football with Michael Emenalo, as normal. I will try to do my job as well as I can, and try to do my best every game."